Synonyms of seduce

seduce

verb

si-ˈdüs 

as in to tempt

to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage

I wasn't going to buy the car, but was seduced by the low-interest payment plan

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tempt
• lure
• persuade
• entice
• betray
• beguile
• allure
• bait
• decoy
• solicit
• lead on
• fascinate
• inveigle
• trap
• enchant
• ensnare
• entrap
• draw in
• rope (in)
• captivate
• bewitch
• charm
• enmesh
• snow
• snare
• magnetize
• catch
• mesh
• wile
• tangle
• immesh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warn
• alert
• ward (off)
• caution
• drive (away or off)
• forewarn
• turn away
• repulse

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb seduce differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of seduce are decoy, entice, inveigle, lure, and tempt. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

In what contexts can decoy take the place of seduce?

While in some cases nearly identical to seduce, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

When would entice be a good substitute for seduce?

The synonyms entice and seduce are sometimes interchangeable, but entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

When could inveigle be used to replace seduce?

While the synonyms inveigle and seduce are close in meaning, inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

When is it sensible to use lure instead of seduce?

The words lure and seduce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

Where would tempt be a reasonable alternative to seduce?

In some situations, the words tempt and seduce are roughly equivalent. However, tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.

tempted by the offer of money

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of seduce

Following a near two-and-a-half-year hiatus, the premiere episode shows a naked Trump trying to seduce Satan, and came a day after the show's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone had reached a $1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025

As Page, Hewitt is taught by her mother that her beauty is her only asset and learns to trade on it to seduce idiotic rich men and separate them from their money to rapidly diminishing returns. —Rachel Handler, Vulture, 18 July 2025

The whole thing creates a languorous atmosphere during the day, when the most action you might be seduced to take on is the walk to the massage hut for a tension-relieving rubdown. —Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 16 July 2025

We’re being seduced into a world largely stripped of color in terms of the interior design, but also the people who inhabit these spaces. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025